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Our Director Director's Blog

Today, OPM celebrates National Native American Heritage Day and recognizes the accomplishments of the peoples who were the original inhabitants, explorers and settlers of what eventually became the United States. Native American Heritage Day is a civil holiday observed the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S.

The month of November is nationally recognized as Native American Heritage Month, with a day specifically designated to celebrate the achievements, culture, and traditions of our Native American citizens.

In President Trump’s proclamation recognizing November as National Native American Heritage Month, he states, “Native Americans have influenced every stage of America's development. They helped early European settlers survive and thrive in a new land. They contributed democratic ideas to our constitutional Framers. And, for more than 200 years, they have bravely answered the call to defend our Nation, serving with distinction in every branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Nation is grateful for the service and sacrifice of all American Indians and Alaska Natives.”

OPM concurs with the President’s view that Native Americans taught the first European settlers the deep importance of culture, and enthusiasm of traditions. Today, the National Museum of the American Indian will be holding a unique family celebration of Native American Heritage Day showcasing different ways that Native people give thanks. I invite you to join in the museum’s Family Fun Day, and explore the interactive programs which include dancing, games, short children’s films, and storytelling.

Please join us in recognizing the many accomplishments and contributions of Native Americas. We thank them for their contributions to our great Nation.

Federal Benefits Open Season is here! Each year, we encourage all eligible employees and retirees to review their health, dental, vision, and tax-saving needs and to make changes to, or enroll in, the right benefit programs for you and your family. Open Season is the time to make elections you generally can’t make during other times of the year. Remember that all health, dental, or vision plans have some differences, and between now and December 11 you can make choices in our quality benefit programs. Here is a link to learn more about the Federal Benefits Open Season.

The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program

The FEHB Program covers over 8.2 million employees, retirees, and their families all across the country. For 2018, there will be 262 health plan choices available, with 15 of them available nationwide. To help you find the right plan for you and your family, OPM’s website provides plan details, including costs, provider directory, services, and benefits. Be sure to use our improved Plan Comparison Tool to assist with your decision.

If you are enrolled in “Self and Family”, but have only one eligible family member, consider changing to Self Plus One. The change could save you money.

On OPM’s Quality page, you can also check out plans in your ZIP code to see how they compare to your current plan on the quality and customer satisfaction topics that matter the most to you. OPM selects the most relevant measures available, including prenatal care, blood pressure control, timeliness of processing claims, and overall plan satisfaction. You can learn more about the FEHB Program on our dedicated Federal Benefits Open Season webpage.

Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)

For 2018, FEDVIP offers 10 dental plans, of which 6 are nationwide plans. And, there are 4 vision plans offered, all available nationwide. Coverage under a FEDVIP dental or vision plan is a great way to fill in the gaps of any coverage you now have or to help pay for services that are not covered or available under your current health plan. Some highlights: FEDVIP offers adult orthodontia and in-network Class A dental services (e.g., oral exams, prophylaxis, topical application of fluoride) are free. And, you can enroll in a self only vision plan for under $4 per pay period. As always, check plan brochures for specific coverage and compare plans. You can learn more about FEDVIP on the Federal Benefits Open Season webpage.

Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS)

Most employees are eligible to enroll in FSAFEDS, but retirees are not eligible for this particular program. You should check with your agency’s human resources office to verify your eligibility. For those that are eligible, FSAFEDS offers 3 accounts to choose from - a health care account, a limited expense health care account, and a dependent care account. Participation in these accounts allows you to lower your taxable income by setting aside pre-tax money to pay for eligible health, dental, vision, and dependent care expenses, such as co-pays, prescription drug costs, orthodontics, eyeglasses, and child/elder care. As a reminder, there is now a “carry over” where enrollees can carry over up to $500 of unused Health Care FSA money into the following year. This means that you won’t have to forfeit money you don’t use by the end of the calendar year. To take advantage of the carry-over of 2017 funds, you must re-enroll for 2018.

FSAFEDS offers paperless reimbursement for your Health Care FSA through a number of FEHB and FEDVIP plans. This means that when you or your provider file claims with your FEHB or FEDVIP plan, FSAFEDS will automatically reimburse your eligible out-of-pocket expenses (co-pay, prescriptions cost, etc..) based on the claim information it receives from your plan. There is little or no paperwork involved, and in many cases you will receive your reimbursement before your bill is due.

To learn more about FSAs, how much you can contribute, how much you can save, and changes for the 2018 benefit period, head over to our Federal Benefits Open Season webpage.

Don’t forget, you have until December 11 to review your and your family’s needs and to make the choices that are right for you.

On Saturday, November 11, 2017, the United States of America will unite in honor of our Nation’s veterans, and pay tribute to their sacrifice for our country.

As President Donald J. Trump said in his 2017 Veterans Day proclamation, “Our veterans represent the very best of America. They have bravely answered the call to serve in the finest military force in the world, and they have earned the dignity that comes with wearing the uniform and defending our great flag. On Veterans Day, we honor all Americans who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, both in times of war and peace. For nearly 100 years, since the end of World War I, Veterans Day has given us a time to pay due respect to our veterans, who have passed the torch of liberty from one generation to the next.”

At the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), we also believe that our veterans represent the very best of America. We know that from working alongside veterans and their families. We see that in our Veterans Services Office here at OPM, as we strive every day to reach out to veterans, transitioning service members, Federal agencies, Veterans Services Organizations, and other stakeholders to support veteran hiring in the Federal Government.

I personally want our veterans to know that their value to our Nation will always be immeasurable, even long after they’ve hung their combat boots up. My father was a Technical Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps (predecessor to the U.S. Air Force). He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals for his service in the Pacific Theatre in WWII. He rejoined Federal service when he was discharged and served about 40 years at the U.S. Postal Service. The pride I feel for him, and everyone who has served our Nation, will never fade.

Our veterans are, and will always be, valued members of the Federal Civil Service and American citizenry. America is the land of the free, because of the brave. Happy Veterans Day and thank you for your service.

I am excited to announce that OPM is releasing the latest Federal Human Capital Business Reference Model (HCBRM), defining the Federal Government Human Capital Management (HCM) functional framework. This model was developed by engaging Human Resources (HR) policy and industry experts.

You may be wondering what this means and how it might impact you so some background on the HCBRM may be helpful. The HCBRM is the first step toward the goal of establishing a common experience for all employees concerning delivery of HR operations and services. It provides a simplified view of operational functions and policy ownership, and a common structure which intends to align HR operations, finance and acquisition. Ultimately, it seeks to foster uniformity in the HR experience for employees notwithstanding the Federal agency in which they serve.

The HCBRM is a functional tool impacting all of us and can be leveraged by agency leaders, HR professionals, and our partners inside and outside government by laying out a clear, transparent and common HCM functional structure that:

The HCBRM delivers value because it will be used to help streamline government-wide HR operations, standardize HR service delivery including information technology, simplify HR acquisitions, and drive transparency in the HR budget. These are all benefits that can have long-lasting impact across the Executive Branch.

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